Talking about how wide our hips have become or how we seem to have a hard time exercising is quite normal. Although it seems harmless, however, all the negative talk can take a toll on our psychological health. According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Communication Research, people who always talk about how heavy they are are more likely to suffer from poor self-esteem and depression.

In the study, researchers gave 85 women and 33 men questionnaires to answer. Based on the results, the more often a person talks about his or her weight, the more likely he or she falls into depression. However, there didn’t seem to be an apparent link between talking about weight and the actual weight gain.

Furthermore, lead author Analisa Arroyo, a graduate student in communications at the University of Arizona, Tucson, says they found that “fat talk predicts changes in depression, body satisfaction, and perceived pressure to be thin across time."

Generally, putting ourselves down isn’t conducive to a good life. Learning to love our shape will make us feel happier, and talking about our bodies in a positive light will go a long way to making this a reality.

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